8 of the Best Travel Websites for Summer Deals

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Dreaming of your summer vacation can transport you to blue-water beaches, mountains with breathtaking views, or to a city for a whirlwind weekend. What your fantasy does not include is the drudgery of scouring the Web for discounts. There is no need for your plans to leave you penniless, because there are travel websites that do all the work for you by aggregating deals on airfare, hotels, lodging, and rental cars.

From bizcations to family get-togethers, there are plenty of discounts for the taking. Here are eight websites where you can find deals on your upcoming summer trips.

Expedia

Travel sites make planning vacations so much easier | Source: iStock

When you book on Expedia you’ll get great customer service and great deals. This 2013 People’s Choice Webby Award winner won’t disappoint when it comes to assisting you with your travel-planning needs. What’s more, the site features vacation packages, a special section for deals of the day, and exclusive rewards for Expedia members. In addition, mobile app users have the ability to earn triple points on flights and hotels.

HomeAway and VRBO

If you prefer the comforts of home over a hotel, try renting a vacation home. HomeAway features more than 1 million listings of homes for vacationers seeking a more comfortable, and less expensive, lodging experience. A similar booking site within the HomeAway family is Vacation Rentals by Owner (or VRBO). Each has foreign and domestic listings, descriptions of the properties, and ratings by previous vacationers.

LivingSocial Escapes

A cruise is just one of may options you can pick with LivingSocail Escapes | Source: iStock

You can have a luxury hotel experience, sail away on a cruise, or ski the slopes and save money by using LivingSocial Escapes. The site has a section just for family friendly deals and travel packages that include flights. If you would rather browse location-specific discounts, there are dedicated sections for trips to Mexico and the Caribbean, Napa Valley, and Las Vegas.

LivingSocial Escapes also features uniquely themed trips for those who want to visit earth-friendly locales or go on an adventure. LivingSocial has what it calls a Good Deal Guarantee. If you change your mind about a purchase, you have 30 days to return an unused, non-dated Escapes voucher. Visit the site for complete details.

Travelocity, TripAdvisor, and Orbitz

Looking for more than just a deal on flights or hotels? Group your deals based on what you need using Travelocity, TripAdvisor, and Orbitz. You can save on combinations like flights and hotel, or hotel and car, depending on which option works best for you. There are also all-inclusive package deals. If you’re looking for something fun to do once you reach your destination, these sites have you covered with a section just for activities

Priceline

You never have to leave your home office to plan your next trip | Source: iStock

The Name Your Own Price tool on Priceline lets you bid on flights, hotels, and rental cars. The site has Express Deals as well, which offer up to 60% off hotels. The Priceline app assists with booking travel plans on the go. The Express Deals feature, which was previously only available to desktop users, has been added to Priceline.com apps and to the mobile site. This savings tool allows you to book travel services without making a bid. The Hotel and Car Negotiator app, as well as the “tonight only” feature, which allows same-day reservations, have been updated with Express Deals.